Artemis II moon images: Separating fact from science fiction

Key Points:

• On April 6, 2026, the Artemis II astronauts conducted a lunar flyby, capturing and sharing authentic photos of the moon's far side, which NASA promptly released in dedicated galleries.
• Despite NASA's official releases, social media saw widespread sharing of fake Artemis II images, including AI-generated, digitally altered, or unrelated photos falsely claimed to be from the mission.
• Common fake images included incorrect views through circular spacecraft windows, unrealistic portrayals of Earth’s size relative to the moon, and overly colorful lunar surfaces not seen in official photos.
• NASA clarified that while the Artemis II crew was the first to view the Orientale Basin in full, real photos show it from a distance of about 4,000 miles, contrasting with misleading close-up images circulating online.
• Genuine Artemis II photos feature the moon’s far side, Earth in partial view, and rare phenomena like a total solar eclipse and Earthrise, but no images show Earth and the moon in the same frame during the mission’s journey to the moon.